Explaining it all...

Clarissa....................................................................Myself

Come Sail Away...

So...as we have gotten incredibly sloppy at editing the blogs several of us (i.e. Nancy and Ginny) have decided to consolidate our blogging to just the fashion blog which we will update with most items of interest....

To Begin...

I am currently swept off my feet by the nautical trend. However, the floaty layers intended for the ship set do not really match well with the frigid climate and I am forced to day dream until the weather grows warm enough for me to emerge

Keeping my eye on some goods
20s Yachting Dress at Twelve By Twelve

Clown Chic

Okay...so my new favorite style to port is a type of clown chic...but what does that entail you ask...well, quite simply clown chic involves inappropriately proportioned, bright colored, and humourous to an extent yet still trendy clothing.

So...one might wear large headphones around one's head or neck

Or several sweatshirts cut in various places whether being the neck, arms, bottom...just not whole...

Funky watches available at Swatch or any local store (my watch has giraffes on the band)can add the light humor to the outfit

For shoes I really enjoy some sort of colorful bowling or saddle shoes and I ideally aspire to find Duckie's shoes from pretty in pink

For a role model to this clownish chic Patrick Wolf, singer/songerwriter extrodinaire provides a fitting example. Check out his Magic Position video for an excellent sample of an outfit or two...

LOLZGALLIANOLOLZ

Rumours that Dior might drop Galliano after letting go high profile mens wear designer Hedi Slimane.
I'm not sure if they're serious...Galliano has been the powerhouse of Dior for a long time now and has won more fame and attention to the house than before. Also, look at him...

How could you let this piece of (fabulous) treasure go?

Confuzzling, indeed

Dude, no one updates this section. Although it is pretty sketchy trying to follow fashion advice from me...
Oh well.
I have come to you today, to begin on the eternal debate...over leggings.
I for one find them completely nonsensical and really confusing. Especially with the sudden popularity, I just don't understand why leggings...exist. First, why do they decide to stop at an awkward place on you leg, above the ankle, but below the knee? Are you calfs less deserving of warmth than your thighs? Why do they just end, cutting off the line of the body and then, inexplicably people wear flip flops with them. Why are leggings even more common than normal tights, who adoringly and without discrimination wrap around your entire leg? This is probably the old granny in me speaking, but I adore tights, even though they involve pulling them over your legs and are probably much more difficult to get on. And finally my biggest complaint against leggings is how they are sometimes used as a futile attempt to mimic pants. This to me, is not acceptable. I am willing to tolerate leggings, sometimes I don't think they're so bad, and people can pull it off and look good. But wearing them like pants, or dangerously exposing the crotch of leggings...well then the granny in me will just explode and chase after you with a rolling pin. Then force you to put on tights with a knee-length skirt. And maybe a chastity belt too.
Anyway, what are your opinions on leggings?
Versace Cruise 2006 (via style)
Low-end leggings from Urban Outfitters.

Caution: A lot of black

So this post is dedicated to finding out the difference between emo and goth due to popular demand. Lets keep in mind I have no insight in this kind of social distinction at all, especially because social categories seem loosely applicable and terms get tossed around a lot. This is the best I can do:

Emo
Emo is a term that is used a lot usually as a derogatory term although not exactly insulting, just reproachful. When you call someone emo you imply that they refuse to socialize and are unnecessarily sad and lonely. The element most hated about emoness is the fact that said "emo person" refuses to have a good time, and then cries about how they didn't have a good time. And just generally weird and depressed. Confused yet?

Stereotypical signs of Emoness:
-tight pants on guys
-black hair/ bangs that sweep across the forehead and partially cover the eyes
-vans/converses (although not applicable at all since everyone wears converse these days)
-wearing black
-crying for no particular reason
-listening to the Bright Eyes and other supposedly emo bands that I don't know the name of...maybe Beck
-Refusing to talk to others and curling up in a ball of self-hating denial
-wearing headphones and staring blankly into space
-black and white self portraits with head slightly inclined looking into the distance with a slightly sour expression (showing disgust for the world)

Why do people hate emo people?
Well they don't. But if they do, its because they're party poopers and everyone likes a good party.

The Origins
Apparently (I'm taking this from one of the definitions of 'emo' in the Urban Dictionary so) way back when in the days of the 1980 DC scene, bands like Rites of Spring called themselves "emotional hardcore" then shortened to "emocore" and now "emo" has implications for culture, mood, music, lifestyle, and fashion as well.
Now in music, emo is usually used loosely as meaning "emotional" and refers to bands with deeper soul searching music about hard times, death, the loss of love, and all that juicy stuff. Sometimes these bands are denounced as whiny or homosexual (especially males) for being so open with their feelings but thats not nice.

Implications?
Emo (more so than goth) is also ridiculed/respected for being more of a "hipster" or a "scene kid". Especially now when expressive bands like Death Cab for Cutie are more popular, there is something hip or cool being implied when emo is used. Usually emo is a derogatory term used for posers or fakes who just pretend to be depressed for attention to be be cool and hip. e.g. "That whiny little emo boy needs to go cry"

The funny part
I think this is funny at least (from Urban Dictionary)


Now moving to:
Goth
First of all, goth is an older phrase that isn't as easily thrown around and refers to a distinct group of people. All I know is they like black so here Urban Dictionary comes in handy:

"There are two definitions:
1) a person who likes to dress and act differently to the other people in society, normally in black but some like much brighter colours. They tend to be thinkers and more often than not quite creative. They have a satyrical sense of humour, and are able to laugh at both themselves and other people. This type of goth originated in the late 80's with the "death" of punk; goths back then liked the style and the "protection" it offered and so emulated it in their own style. They listen to and appreciate all sorts of good music. They can be gay/depressed/weird/menta lly disturbed, but more often than not they are just normal people.

2) an offshoot of the nu-metal clique who think that to *really* piss off their parents they'll dress all in black and talk about death and suicide whilst listening to Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park and Slipknot because it's "cool". They tend to have very little idea of the other type of goths (or anything else other than themselves for that matter) and will probably change their fashion once it becomes "uncool" again. Thank god.

by Heather Apr 28, 2003"

Which shows the almost cult following of goths there is, and calling someone goth as an insult is just...weird. Goths are known as dark, nonconformist, and much more hardcore than typical "emo" people. They do not seek popularity/hipness/attention by being different and wearing black, they simply are. This is why you can't insult goths, but it is acceptable to insult emo people as much as you want. Its weird, like a religion. And creep. I just don't talk about it because I don't think I understand enough about it.



Essentially: Different things Emo and Goth.

(from urban dictionary):

The Difference between Emo And Goth: Emos Hate themselves Goths hate Everyone Emos Want to Kill themselves Goths Want to kill Everyone

Now I have to post about elves and fairies next because this is kind of depressing.

Effortless Prep

While you all may scorn prep as an unimaginative style where people follow what the stores put out while paying ridiculous prices and I often agree with you. However, Effortless Prep is the style of GODS.
Effortless Prep can be traced across much of America's latter history with a stronghold in the classic New England boarding schools. For those that have read A Separate Peace , the character Finny is characterized by the style of Effortless Prep.
Effortless Prep is a style limited to boys as are most interesting things like being funny. Effortless Prep, however, is created by those boys whose parents buy them exceedingly expensive clothing which they care nothing about. It is not uncommon to see an Effortless Prep wearing plain white tee-shirts that appear to be generic Hanes but on closer look at the tags it shows through that they are indeed made by J Crew or Ralph Lauren. Effortless Preps also where stuff that is vaguely in style and vaguely will never be, like pink bermuda shorts for boys. Accompaning these shorts would be an untucked button up shirt that cost beaucoup d'argent and in a flamboyantly clashing color. However, the Effortless Prep always looks amazing and the colors look refreshing and cool. No one can truly say that they do not like the Effortless Prep and those that do are just bitter and jealous. The best trait of the Prep is that it is accomplished by sheer laziness. It is best executed by leaving all the expensive clothes on the floor, waking up five minutes before class and throwing whatever on. That, my friends, is the beauty of the Effortless Prep.